Peach tree named ‘Western Princess’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peach tree,  Prunus persica,  broadly characterized by a medium size, vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in early July, with first picking on Jul. 1, 2006. The fruit is uniformly large in size, mildly acidic and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, freestone in type, firm in texture, yellow in flesh color, and mostly red in skin color.

Botanical classification: Prunus persica.

Variety denomination: ‘WESTERN PRINCESS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, I, the inventor, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peach tree, which has been denominated varietally as ‘WESTERN PRINCESS’. The present variety was hybridized by me in 1992, grown as a seedling on its own root in my greenhouse, and transplanted to a cultivated area of my experimental orchard located near Le Grand, Calif., in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley).

The variety was developed as a first generation cross using ‘Diamond Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,066) peach as the selected seed parent and an unnamed white flesh peach (unpatented) as the selected pollen parent. A single tree from the stated cross was selected as the claimed variety. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of peach tree, I asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimental orchard described above, and such reproduction of plant and fruit characteristics were true to the original plant in all respects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of ‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented) rootstock upon which the present variety was compatible and true to type.

The present variety is most similar to its selected seed parent, ‘Diamond Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,066) peach, by producing peaches that are nearly globose in shape, freestone in type, yellow in flesh color, acidic and sweet in flavor, and mostly red in skin color, but is distinguished therefrom by requiring much less chilling hours and by producing fruit that is larger in size and that matures about ten days earlier.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

In summary, the present variety is characterized by a medium size, vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in early July, with first picking on Jul. 1, 2006. The fruit is uniformly large in size, mildly acidic and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, freestone in type, firm in texture, yellow in flesh color, and mostly red in skin color.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph consists of four whole fruits positioned to display the characteristics of the skin color and form, one fruit divided around the suture plane to reveal the flesh and stone, two insets to reveal buds and blossoms in various stages, and a full size leaf.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics of this new and distinct variety of peach tree, the following has been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand, Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at the state of firm eating ripe on Jul. 10, 2006, on the original tree during its fourteenth growing season. All major color code designations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

Tree

-   Size: Medium, reaching and maintaining a height of 11′ [3.35 m.] and     a spread of 10′ [3.05 m.] after fourteen growing seasons utilizing     typical dormant pruning. -   Vigor: Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and     fertilization. The variety grows about 3′ [0.91 m.] of surplus     top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant should be grown     on a standard commercial rootstock for production purposes. -   Growth: Spreading and dense. -   Form: Vase formed. -   Hardiness: Hardy with respect to central California winters. -   Heat tolerance: Observed to perform adequately in typical central     California climatic conditions, which typically include extended     periods of heat. -   Drought tolerance: Variety is developed for commercial orchards and     requires regular irrigation. -   Production: Very productive, thinning necessary. -   Fertility: Self-fertile. -   Bearing: Regular bearer with no alternate bearing yet observed. -   Approximate Chilling Requirement: 500 hours. -   Trunk:     -   -   Size.—Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 6½″ [165 mm.]             after the fourteenth growing season.         -   Texture.—Shaggy.         -   Bark color.—A Brownish gray [64. brGy] and Dark reddish             brown [44. d.rBr] variegation with Light yellowish brown             [76. l.yBr] crevices present.         -   Lenticels.—Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 7. Color:             Moderate orange yellow [71. m.OY]. Typical Size: 3/16″ [4.8             mm.] to 7/16″ [11.1 mm.]. Shape: Eye-shaped to elongated. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Diameter of limb is 4″ [102 mm.] measured 12″ above             the crotch, 2¾″ [70 mm.] measured 12″ above the first fork.         -   Texture.—Smooth on first and second year wood, increasing             roughness with age.         -   Color.—1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st             Year Wood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].             Older wood: Deep yellowish brown [75. deep yBr].         -   Lenticels.—Number Per Square Inch: More than 50 on second             year wood. Color: Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr]. Typical             size: 1/64″ [0.4 mm.] to 3/32″ [2.4 mm.] on second year             wood. Shape: Elongated. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Medium. Average Length: 5¾″ [146 mm.]. Average Width:             1¾″ [44 mm.].         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Form.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Acute, with a base angle of 75 to 80 degrees.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG].             Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].         -   Margin.—Finely serrate.         -   Venation.—Pinnately net veined.         -   Vein color.—Light yellow green [119. l.YG].         -   Petiole.—Average Length: ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. Average Thickness:             1/16″ [1.6 mm.]. Color: Very yellow green [115. v.YG].         -   Stipules.—Number: Usually 2 per leaf, up to 6 per growing             tip. Average Length: 5/16″ [7.9 mm.]. Color: Very yellow             green [115. v.YG] becoming Moderate reddish brown [43.             m.rBr] with maturity.         -   Glands.—Number: 2 to 4 per leaf. Position: Alternately             positioned on petiole and base of blade. Size: Medium. Form:             Reniform. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]             becoming Dark yellowish brown [78. d.yBr] with age.         -   Leaf buds.—Pointed, medium in size. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Hardiness.—Hardy, with respect to central California             winters.         -   Diameter.—Typically ⅜″ [9.5 mm.] 1 week before bloom.         -   Length.—Typically 9/16″ [14.3 mm.] 1 week before bloom.         -   Form.—Not appressed.         -   Surface.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Moderate purplish pink [250. m.pPk]. -   Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil,     typically thirty or more stamens, five sepal and petal locations     alternately positioned.     -   -   Type.—Showy, very large.         -   Average flower diameter.—2″ [50.8 mm.].         -   Number of petals.—Usually five, but extra petal fragments             and full double blossoms occur occasionally.         -   Petal shape.—Circular to oval.         -   Petal margin.—Somewhat wavy.         -   Average petal diameter.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].         -   Average petal length.—⅞″ [22.2 mm.].         -   Petal apex.—Rounded.         -   Petal base.—Rounded to somewhat truncate.         -   Petal color.—Pale pink [7. p.Pk] toward the apex, Light             purplish pink [249. l.pPk] toward the base.         -   Anther color.—Dark red [16. d.R] over a Light yellow [86.             l.Y] center at bloom onset.         -   Stigma color.—Light greenish yellow [101. l.gY].         -   Sepal color.—Dark purplish red [259. d.pR].         -   Sepal length.—¼″ [6.4 mm.].         -   Sepal width.— 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].         -   Average pistil length.—⅞″ [22.2 mm.].         -   Average stamen length.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].         -   Fragrance.—Moderate.         -   Blooming period.—Early, five days before ‘Rose Diamond’             (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,421) nectarine.         -   Onset of bloom.—One percent on Feb. 14, 2006.         -   Date of full bloom.—Mar. 1, 2006.         -   Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient             temperature.         -   Number per cluster.—1 to 3 with single flowers most common.

FRUIT

-   Maturity when described: Firm eating ripe, Jul. 10, 2006. -   Date of first picking: Jul. 1, 2006. -   Date of last picking: Jul. 13, 2006. -   Size: Uniform, large.     -   -   Average diameter axially.—3″ [76 mm.].         -   Average diameter across suture plane.—3½″ [89 mm.].         -   Average diameter across cheek plane.—3 9/16″ [91 mm.].         -   Typical weight.—9.9 ounces [281 grams]. -   Form: Slightly asymmetrical, globose to somewhat oblate.     -   -   Longitudinal section form.—Elliptical to oblate.         -   Axial view.—Round. -   Suture: A sharp groove in the stem cavity, a distinct line in a     shallow trough along the side, a sharp groove toward the apex     extending just beyond the pistil point. -   Ventral surface: Rounded, slight bulging along one side, lightly     lipped toward the apex. -   Lips: Fairly equal toward the apex. -   Cavity: Flaring, elongated in the suture plane, suture showing on     both sides, Very yellow [82. v.Y] stem markings typical.     -   -   Depth.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].         -   Breadth.—1⅛″ [28.6 mm.]. -   Base: Truncate. -   Apex: Rounded and slightly truncate. -   Pistil point: Apical, negligible in length, usually depressed within     the suture. -   Stem: Medium.     -   -   Average length.—⅜″ [9.5 mm.].         -   Average width.— 3/16″ [4.8 mm.]. -   Skin:     -   -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.         -   Astringency.—Moderate.         -   Tendency to crack.—None observed.         -   Color.—Dark red [16. d.R] over a Moderate reddish orange             [37. m.rO] background.         -   Down.—Moderate, short, does not role up when rubbed. -   Flesh:     -   -   Color.—Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] with Very red [11.             v.R] streaking.         -   Surface of pit cavity.—Moderate pink [5. m.Pk] fibers.         -   Amygdalin.—Moderate.         -   Juice.—Moderate, rich.         -   Texture.—Firm, melting.         -   Fibers.—Abundant, fine.         -   Ripens.—Slightly earlier toward the apex.         -   Flavor.—Mildly acidic and sweet, typically 13 brix,             traditional peach taste.         -   Aroma.—Moderate.         -   Eating quality.—Very good.

STONE

-   Type: Freestone. -   Form: Oval. -   Hilum: Narrow. -   Base: Obtuse, somewhat oblique. -   Apex: Obtuse, with an average angle of 110 degrees. -   Tips: ⅛″ [3.2 mm.] in length with an average tip angle of 75     degrees. -   Sides: Slightly unequal. -   Surface: Regularly furrowed toward the apex, pitted from the base to     slightly beyond the center. -   Ridges: Rounded. -   External color: Deep yellowish brown [75. deep y.Br]. -   Pit wall color when cracked: Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr]. -   Cavity surface color: Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr.]. -   Average pit wall thickness: ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. -   Average width: 1⅛″ [27.0 mm.]. -   Average length: 1⅜″ [34.9 mm.]. -   Average breadth: ¾″ [19.1 mm.]. -   Tendency to split: None observed. -   Kernel:     -   -   Form.—Oval.         -   Skin color.—Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] when first             removed.         -   Pellicle color.—Grayish yellow [90. gy.Y].         -   Vein color.—Light olive brown [94. l.OlBr].         -   Taste.—Bitter.         -   Viable.—Yes.         -   Average width.—½″ [12.7 mm.].         -   Average length.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].         -   Amygdalin.—Moderate.

Use

-   Market: Processing, fresh market, and long distance shipping. -   Keeping quality: Good, fruit quality observed to remain in good     condition after 17 days in standard cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2°     Celsius]. -   Shipping quality: Good. -   Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted. -   Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Other Notes

Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the described characteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected that variations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas with different climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varying cultural practices. 

1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree, substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to its selected seed parent, ‘Diamond Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,066) peach, by producing peaches that are nearly globose in shape, freestone in type, yellow in flesh color, acidic and sweet in flavor, and mostly red in skin color, but is distinguished therefrom by requiring much less chilling hours and by producing fruit that is larger in size and that matures about ten days earlier. 